"There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel." (Proverbs 20:15)

November News from LPGM

Click the video above to hear a special message from four 12th standard students in their final year at Siloam Boarding Home in Tirukoilur, Tamil Nadu, India.

Open doors for people at the margins - especially women and girls!

We hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Click below to watch a short Thanksgiving greeting from LPGM's development director, Bethany Krepela.

Updates

Pastor Jane Anitha Visits Minneapolis

Pastor Jane Anitha of the Arcot Lutheran Church of India visited Minneapolis November 20-24. Her visit was filled with warm greetings, some tears, and inspiring stories of lives being changed.

After becoming an ordained pastor, Pastor Jane Anitha managed the ALC's Siloam Boarding Home, where she supported over 600 Dalit girls annually. She faithfully served in this role from 2012 to 2023. She is now a pastor for five small village congregations.

Read a recap of Jane's visit

LPGM's Long-time Program Director Mary Peterson to Retire

Mary Peterson, LPGM's beloved program director, has announced her retirement effective December 31, 2024.

While this news brings mixed emotions, we are first and foremost filled with gratitude for Mary's 12 years of outstanding service to LPGM!

At her retirement party on November 21, Mary was touched to learn that our partner Eripoto for Girls and Women in Tanzania will honor her with a special gift.

Learn more about the special gift

Eripoto Gives a Pregnant Maasai Girl New Hope

Nasinka wanted desperately to attend school, but she was one of 33 children in her father’s household, and he was not supportive.

When she was nine, she ran away to school. While she excelled in school, her father ordered her to drop out and arranged for her to be married during a school break.

In a terrifying turn of events, she was kidnapped during her next school break and taken to the house of the man her father wanted her to marry. However, her story was far from over, and Eripoto for Girls and Women stepped in to help!

Learn how Eripoto helped Nasinka

A Newcomer Reflects on What Makes LPGM Special

Shannon Mahedy joyfully and enthusiastically joined LPGM six months ago as our first-ever communications coordinator.

She was raised in a progressive Catholic household in New Jersey that emphasized service, social justice, and global connection, so LPGM's mission of providing access to education for people at the margins immediately drew her in.

At the same time, she was unfamiliar with Lutheran customs, culture, and beliefs. So, as you can imagine, she felt a bit like an imposter.

Read how Shannon feels six months later

Open doors for people at the margins - especially women and girls!

Birthday Celebrations Continue...

Your support of Project Education India (PEI) provides funding for monthly birthday celebrations at each boarding home. Melpattambakkam Boarding Home recently celebrated students with November birthdays. Smiles abounded as cake was consumed!

Watch clips from the recent celebration

Make Students' Wishes Come True with the Christmas Wish List!

It’s become a tradition to grant Christmas Wishes at the boarding homes. Wish lists are compiled by the students at the boarding homes and touch the lives of all the students – sponsored and unsponsored alike.

The Christmas Wish List provides items and experiences that most of the students’ families cannot afford, enriching their boarding home experience.

Past wishes have included everything from wash buckets and mosquito nets to sporting and music equipment, games, and excursions to museums, zoos, or the beach. Your gift also helps provide a favorite Christmas sweet – laddu!

Will you give to the Christmas Wish List fund to make students' wishes come true during this joyous season?

Grant a Christmas Wish

Creative Ways to Give this Holiday Season

Maximize Your Impact with Non-Cash Assets

You can help LPGM raise $300,000 by December 31 to meet our partners' needs.

In this season of thanksgiving, we at LPGM and our partners are very grateful for the faithful support of friends like you over the past 30 years.

While cash donations (gifts made by checks or credit cards) are always appreciated, there are some alternative ways to give which may provide you with additional financial benefits while allowing us to meet the growing needs of our global partners.

Thank you for prayerfully considering how you might bless students at the margins this Christmastime.

Learn more about non-cash gifts options

Direct Your Thrivent Choice Dollars® to LPGM

Are you a Thrivent member who’s eligible to direct Choice Dollars®?

By directing Choice Dollars, eligible Thrivent members recommend where Thrivent should distribute its charitable grant funds. LPGM is a registered recipient of Thrivent Choice. Contributions received through the Thrivent Choice program are added to LPGM’s general fund and applied where funds are needed most. Directing Choice Dollars is easy!

Direct your Choice Dollars to LPGM today

Open doors for people at the margins - especially women and girls!

Our Mission: LPGM provides access to quality education for people at the margins – especially women and girls. We work together with global partners to listen, respond and bear witness to local needs and priorities.

Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 41-1818525. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.